Detection of minimal leukemic cells in cerebral spinal fluid of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia using the polymerase chain reaction technique.

V delta 2D delta 3 rearrangements of T cell receptor (TCR) gene from cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF) cells was detected for diagnosis and monitoring of central nervous system leukemia (CNSL) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. 20 patients were studied and in 12 of them the results of PCR and dot hybridization with clonospecific probes were positive, showing the presence of minimal blast cells in CSF. Our study suggested that the PCR method is an effective tool for clinical diagnosis of CNSL and is much more sensitive than routine CSF examination.